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Braun knows what Sveum expects of Cubs

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By Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

MILWAUKEE -- Ryan Braun hit a three-run home run Sunday to help the Brewers beat his former hitting coach and current Cubs manager Dale Sveum. Fourteen of the Cubs' 17 games this season have been decided by three runs or less, and it's been tough for them to overcome any mistakes.

"I'm sure he's frustrated," Braun said of Sveum, now in his second year as Cubs manager. "I think he always expects his teams to be fundamentally sound, he always holds guys accountable. We loved having him here and I'm sure they enjoy having him over there, but obviously, it's a frustrating time. All three of their starters threw the ball well against us, it was just a matter of making a couple of mistakes that ended up hurting them."

The Cubs actually out hit the Brewers, 22-16, in the three-game series, yet were swept.

"Those three games can turn around and go either way, so that part's frustrating [for Sveum]," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "We went through it early in the season, and most likely, we're going to go through it again during this season. It's the ups and downs, and at the beginning of the season, for me, that's harder. But they've got enough guys -- their starting pitching is good, and I think they'll be all right."